Out of the zone...

The comfort zone that is. I get nervous about contacting people and asking them questions and things. Which is weird, because I can appear really loud and outgoing. But really just with my friends. They help me conquer those "awkward and shy" feelings. I always get those butterflies when it comes to me having to approach someone new or do something new. 

But it's time for me to step out. I'm going to conquer these fears and I'm going to do it without my friends standing beside me.

Kaitlyn from itsavirtue, Gentri Lee from gentrilee, and Kristy from gastronomicalsovereignty have joined forces and started round 2 of Send Something Good [formerly known as Package Pals]. What this involves is a round robin of gift giving sorts. I'll let Gentri Lee explain what's going on:

"I couldn't be more excited about this project. It's going to be a blast! But before I get into that, I want to explain where it came from... Some of you may have heard of a little project called "Package Pals". Last fall a blogger from Germany and myself exchanged packages. They were filled with our favorite treats - treats the other blogger had always wanted to try from our own country, plus some other goodies that were specific to our country. When I posted about it on my blog, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 

The reaction was AMAZING! Everyone wanted their own package pal. So the very next day, Package Pals was born. Over 50 bloggers signed up, I gave them partners, asked them to get to know each other, and then send a box filled with goodies. I was blown away by the creativity. People sent items like: Fry Sauce- a Utah favorite, Sea Shells from the California Coast, Seeds from the state flower of Michigan, home made Maple Syrup from Canada, and so much more! We all had such a great time and everyone couldn't wait for the next round... 

But I was exhausted. It was no easy task, there were bumps along the way, and now that I am in school, I do not have the time it takes to organize another round. A month or so ago I received an email from Kaitlyn. She and Kristy had both participated in the first round, knew my dilemma of not having time (or the technical skills) to pull it off myself again, and had a lot of great and new ideas of how to run it this next time around. 

I was THRILLED, and "Package Pals" become the "Send Something Good" project! (Lets face it, Package Pals wasn't the best name to begin with. haha! Remember, I brought this project to life in less than 24 hrs) They both have the exact qualities and abilities to make this project be what I know it can be. So with new ideas, direction, and a fresh new name, "Send Something Good" is ready to launch! A big thank you to Kaitlyn and Kristy, this wouldn't be happening without them. 

It's going to be a little different this time around. Instead of having a "partner" it's going to be round robin. Everyone will have a different blogger that they're assigned to "get to know" kind of like a secret sister. Read their blog, find out their interests, email back and forth, but don't tell them WHY. When shopping for your blogger, take into account not only their interests, but things that are specific to your area of the world. 

This project is ALL about bringing us together, making friends all over the world, and learning something new about somewhere you've never been. This doesn't require you to spend a lot of money. Get personal in what you include in your package. Maybe a favorite book that you don't mind passing on, a necklace you made, a package of seeds from your favorite flower, or a friendship bracelet! You also don't have to have a blogger from a different country. I know that can get expensive. So just specify your preference when you sign up. 

To sign up, read the fine print below, and then email sendsomethinggood2012(at)gmail(dot)com. you are also welcome to purchase send something good products from Kaitlyn's shoppe at 20% off with the discount code SENDSOMETHINGGOOD. They're the perfect addition to your "Send Something Good" package. :) The first week will be the best time to purchase, it might not reach you in time if you wait. This is going to be an AMAZING project, I can FEEL it! Don't forget to spread the word!"

So what this means is that I have to get to know someone I don't know. Befriend them. Learn their likes. Their dislikes. Buy them gifts and send them to them. All while someone else is doing the same thing with me. We don't know who each other are or who each other could be. It's fun and exciting and I'm scared to death. I have no idea why I am though, but that doesn't change the fact that there are nervous butterflies inhabiting my stomach as I type this. But I'm going to stick with it. I'm excited about it. I really am. And I'm going to conquer these irrational fears that I'm having. This is going to be fun and exciting and I can't wait to see what happens!